Method and means for producing a railway carriage roof

ABSTRACT

THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY CARRIAGE ROOF COMPRISING THE STEPS OF UNROLLING A METAL BAND OVER A FRAMEWORK OF A RAILWAY CARIAGE ROOF FORMED WITH ARCHED MEMBERS BETWEEN UPRIGHTS, FIXING ONE END OF THE BAND TO AN ARCHED MEMBER AT ONE END OF THE FRAMEWORK, CURVING THE OTHER END OF THE BAND IN THE TRANSVERSE DIRECTION SO THAT IT ASSUMES THE SHAPE OF THE ARCHED MEMBERS, TENSIONING THE BAND AND NAILING THE BAND TO THE FRAME-WORK ALONG THE SIDE MEMBERS AND THEN ALONG THE OTHER END OF THE ARCHED MEMBERS, AND THEN SEPARATING THE FRAMEWORK FROM THE UNUSED PORTIONS OF THE BAND.

Oct. 19, 1971 co s 3,613,19

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING A RAILWAY CARRIAGE ROOF Filed June 30, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

b A a1/ a/ a/ \a \a2 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

Fn/wco/J (04/15 FIG. 3

0a. 19, 1911 F.co| A1s 3,613,194

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING A RAILWAY CARRIAGE ROOF Filed June so, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

0a. 19, 1911 F, LAS 3,613,194

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING A RAILWAY CARRIAGE ROOF Filed June 30, 1969 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WE A United States Patent Office Patented Oct. 19, 1971 158,743 Int. Cl. B60j 7/12; E04b 7/14 [1.5. Cl. 29-33 E 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The manufacture of railway carriage roof comprising the steps of unrolling a metal band over a framework of a railway carriage roof formed with arched members between uprights, fixing one end of the band to an arched member at one end of the framework, curving the other end of the band in the transverse direction so that it assumes the shape of the arched members, tensioning the band and nailing the band to the frame-work along the side members and then along the other end of the arched members, and then separating the framework from the unused portions of the band.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a railway carriage shed.

Railway carriage sheds, roofs, generally comprise a metal framework to which a sheet of metal of suitable size is fixed, as by riveting or welding. Since its dimensions are large, the roofing metal sheet is produced by welding together segments of smaller dimensions. This method is long and complicated and consequently quite troublesome.

It is an obect of this invention to produce and to provide a method for producing a roof of the type described in a simple and efficient manner. 7

These and other obects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention in shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a portion of a railway carriage roof embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a framework employed in the practice of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a roll carrier employed in the practice of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the jaw shaping means;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing the gantry shaping means;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing another embodi ment of the gantry application means;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the assembly apparatus;

FIG. 8 shows the jaws in their lowered position; and

FIG. 9 shows the carriage in the locked position.

The method embodying the feature of this invention comprises unrolling a metal band over a framework of a railway carriage roof, fixing one end of the band to an arched member at one end of the framework, curving the other end of the band in the transverse direction so that it assumes the shape of the arched members, pulling on the band to tighten it, completing the operations of curving and fixing the band by nailing it to the framework along the side members and then along the other end arched member, and finally separating the framework from the unused part of the band. The railway carriage sheds produced in accordance with the practice of this invention are covered with a metal sheet in a continuous operation.

In one embodiment of the invention, after the band has been fixed to a first framework, said framework is displaced to unroll the remainder of the band and to make room for a second framework, then the part of the band which has not been used is fixed to an end arched member of the second framework before the band is out between the two frameworks.

To carry out the method of this invention, an apparatus is used which essentially comprises a roll carrier to unwind and re-wind the roll, a jaw shaping means to form the curve in the transverse direction of the portion of the band which has been unwound and gripped between the jaws, a movable, guided gantry means which is displaced above the unrolled band and which serves initially to spread the band over the framework to which the band will be nailed and to curve the band for applying it progressively to the framework, and finally to nail the band to the framework by means of machines mounted on the gantry application means, the roll carrier, jaw shaping means and gantry application means being aligned in the order specified so that they have the same vertical symmetry plane. Added to the assembly of roll carrier, jaw shaping means and gantry application means is a carirage mounted to run on rails for carrying the framework to be covered and which serves to move the framework under the unrolled band, where it can be locked in position by a ram fixed to the ground and a curve removing means which, if necessary, straightens the unrolled band. The curve removing means is positioned between the roll carrier and the jaw shaping means.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a railway carriage roof taken between two longitudinally spaced arched members a of the framework A. The arched members a are in the form of arched metal angle irons which are welded at their ends to two laterally spaced apart longitudinally extending members acting as side frame members 11. These shaped side members, which are the length of a railway carriage, are produced by bending sheet metal. The metal band or metal sheet c, which serves as the roof, is curved in the transverse direction by conforming to the curved shape of the arched members a and is nailed, as at d to the shaped side members b and to the end arched members of the framework, as at al and a2, shown in FIG. 2. A flat plate 2, positioned parallel to the side members b, is interposed between the heads of the nails d and the metal band 0.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view from above of a framework, showing the side frame members b, the longitudinally disposed crosswise extending curvilinear arched members a, which are joined at their ends to the side frame members 12.

FIG. 3 shows the roll carrier B on which is mounted a full roll 1 of a sheet metal band. Shown below the full roll f is the framework A which is rigidly fixed to a carriage C supported on wheels which run on rails g1. The use of rails enables the carriage to be kept constantly in alignment with the apparatus assembly.

FIG. 4 shows the jaw shaping means D. The base structure D1 which is firmly anchored to the ground, carries the Working assembly of two jaws, including an upper jaw or platen D2 and a lower jaw or platen D3. The platens D2 and D3 are provided at their lateral edges with guides positioned operatively to engage vertically disposed slides D4 provided in the base structure D1 for guiding the platens or jaws in their relative vertical sliding movement. The upper jaw D2 is adapted to be displaced vertically by ram D5 while the lower jaw D3 is adapted to be displaced vertically by ram D6 for movement relative to the upper jaw D2. By virtue of their arched shape, similar to that of the arched members a of the framework A, by

gripping the metal band unwound from the roll f, the jaws D2 and D3 form the metal band to the desired curvilinear shape in the transverse direction. The parts of the jaws which come in contact with the metal band are covered, as by means of a layer of flexible material, such as leather or rubber, so as not to damage the surface of the band.

FIG. shows the gantry application E having a frame E1 formed of laterally spaced apart vertically disposed uprights E11 and E12 connected at their upper ends by cross frame members E13 with the lower ends of the uprights resting on rails G2, at ground level, for guiding the structure and for enabling displacement in a manner to be constantly centered above the framework A. Mounted on the structure E1 are the application means E2 proper, nailing machines E3 and cabins (not shown) for the nailing machine supervisor. The operative part of the application means E2 is of an arched shape having the same curvature as that of the arched members a of the framework A. The parts of E2, on the underside which come into contact with the metal band 0, are provided with a flexible material so as to prevent the surface of the band being damaged. The application means E2 is adapted to be vertically displaced as by means of two rams E4 each having one end rigidly fixed to the structure E1 while the other end is fixed to the means E2. The nailing machines E3 located on both sides of the application means E2 use explosively driven nails and are set perpendicularly to the surface of the framework A when in position under the application means. The position of the nailing machines E3 is manually adjustable. The gantry application means E is additionally provided with attachments such as hooks, gripping means, circular saws (not shown in FIG. 5). The hooks and gripping means make it possible for the end of the unrolled metal band a to be fixed to the gantry application means. By displacing the gantry application means E, to which the end of the metal band is fixed, the band is spread over the framework A. The saws enable the band 0 to be cut at the desired point. The motors (not shown in FIG. 5), which displace the gantry applications E on the rails or which actuate the nailing machines, are controlled manually or automatically in accordance with a predetermined program.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the gantry application means E embodying features of the invention. Instead of the rails 32 laid at ground level, the rails g3, on which the gantry application means runs, are raised above ground and carried by a fixed gantry structure E5, the length of which is at least once the length of a railway carriage.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the complete apparatus assembly. It shows, in the logical order in which the different tools come into operation, the roll carrier B, the curve removing means such as straightening rolls F of known type, the shaping means D, the gantry application means 15. In FIG. 7, C1 indicates a carriage carrying a finished shed with its nailed roof, C2 indicates a carriage carrying a framework to be nailed, and C3 indicates a carriage with a framework to be nailed waiting to be worked on.

The apparatus according to the invention can be used in the following manner, the description of which is given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation:

The two jaws D2, D3 of the shaping means D are raised, the carirage C carrying a framework A is slid into position C2 in which it is locked, as indicated in FIG. 8. The jaws D2, D3 are lowered (FIG. 8) and moved apart. The metal band 0 is introduced between the jaws and then the end of the band 0 is fixed to the gantry application means E. The gantry application means E is moved back to draw the rolled band over the framework A (FIG. 8); when a fiat plate e has been set in position, a portable apparatus is used to nail the metal band 0 to the framework A along the end arched member a1 toward the gantry application means E, and the end of the band 0 is released from the gantry application means E to free the latter. The band c is re wound to tighten it slightly. The position of the jaws D2, D3 is adjusted to set the band parallel to the upper surface of the framework A. The jaws D2, D3 are tightened. The carriage C is pushed by means of a hydraulic ram G mounted on the ground between the r-ails under the carriage in order to tighten the band 0 well between the jaws D2, D3 and the end arched member al. The ram G keeps the band under a constant tension. Flat plates 2 are set in position by means of a number of nails. The gantry application means is then displaced towards the shaping means, in order thus to ensure that the band is progressively curved and that it exactly conforms to the shape of the framework A. During this movement, the gantry application means stops at regular intervals, for example every 8 centimeters, to give the nailing machine time to drive in a nail. When the gantry application means E reaches the last arched member a2, the application means proper E2 is raised and drawn back and the band is nailed to the last arched member with a portable apparatus. When nailing is concluded, the jaws D2, D3 are opened, the carriage C is unlocked, the remainder of the roll f is unwound, the carriage is moved to position C1 and is locked (FIG. 9). The jaws D2, D3 and the band c are raised. Another carriage C is slid beneath the band into position C2 and is locked. The jaws are lowered and adjusted for position to set the band parallel to the framework A under it. A flat plate e is set in position and the band is nailed to the end arched member al. The band is cut, preferably by means of the saws of the gantry application means, to separate the first carriage from the second carriage. The first carriage with the finished shed is removed. The above-described cycle is then recommended for the new framework.

The method according to the invention operates in a continuous fashion rapidly to fix the roof of a railway carriage shed, from a roll of adequate width, without any welding being required. By way of non-limitative example, the roof of the carriage is 16 meters long, 2.65 meters wide, the radius of curvature of the arched member is 2.5 meters and the number of nails driven in along each side member of the roof is 2 00. A band of aluminum is used which is 1.2 mm. thick and 2650 mm. wide. The time required for mounting the covering metal sheet, calculated from the preparation of the metal sheet, is only about 4.5 hours for the method according to the invention Whereas for prior methods it is about 9 hours. In addition, the number of workmen required for this operation can easily be reduced from ten to five.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for mounting a roof on railway carriages by which a metal band is unrolled over an arched roof framework including an arched member and one end of the band is fixed to the arched member and the other end is deformed to conform same to the arched member comprising jaw shaping means to shape the metal band including a pair of jaws mounted for relative movement in a vertical direction and having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the arched member, said jaws adapted to receive an unrolled portion of the band therebetween in pressure engagement to deform the band in the transverse direction to a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the arched member and movable guided gantry means mounted for displacement along the unrolled portion of the band and means on the gantry means to deform the unrolled portion of the band and to fix the unrolled portion of the band progressively to the framework as the gantry means is moved relative to the framework.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the jaw shaping means also includes a frame structure which is anchored to the ground and an upper jaw and a lower jaw, ram means operatively connected to the jaws to permit vertical displacement of the jaws with respect to the structure, one ram means operatively connected to the lower jaw for vertical displacement relative to the upper jaw, said jaws having the same curvature as the arched member of the framework.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which includes a flexible material covering the portions of the jaws which come into contact with the metal band.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the flexible material is leather or rubber.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the gantry means comprising a frame structure, rails on which the structure is supported for displacement and application means mounted for vertical displacement, the operative part of the application means having the same curvature as that of the arched members of the framework, and at least two nailing machines located on both sides of the application means and arranged perpendicularly to the surface of the framework under the gantry means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the means for vertical displacement of the gantry means comprises at least one ram rigidly fixed to the structure.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 which includes a flexible material covering the parts of the gantry means which come into contact with the metal band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,594,131 4/1952 Daines 29-449 X 2,685,263 8/1954 Barnes et a1. 29-448 X 3,009,212 11/1961 Makens 52-66 ANDREW R. IUHASZ, Primary Examiner Z. R. BILINSKY, Assistant Examiner 

